September 24, 1869

Amiville.

The next morning I walked out of the office and saw Tabitha sitting in front of the candy store. I waved and greeted her, going over to lean against the post. I asked if she wanted to make an advertisement for the newspaper about her new store and she said that it would be much appreciated. We went into the store and she showed me around, giving me a sample of some of the candy. 

A handsome man walked into the store and greeted us. “I would like a box of your finest chocolates down to the marshals’ office with a note, please. The note should read, ‘thank you for your kind assistance earlier. Signed, Frank Drevon.’” 

“Certainly Sir. We have some chocolates that will do perfectly,” she smiled and scribbled the note to be attached. “I take it you will want a large box to go around all the marshals we have here in town?” 

“I’ll send it along,” I nodded to Frank. 

“Stacie and Chelsey and Jakob in particular please.” 

“My name’s Trin Paige, sir. I run the newspaper around the corner,” I introduced myself. 

“The colour of that top looks wonderful on you, good choice,” he complimented. 

“Why thank you,” I reached out my hand for him to shake it and he lifted it to his lips, kissing the back of my hand gently, making me blush. 

“That’ll be 10 gold coins Sir, if you please,” Tabitha requested. 

Frank held onto my hand a little longer and then reached into his pocket and handed over fifteen coins. “Keep the change for your delightful service,” he smiled to Tabitha. I held his gaze then stepped back. 

“Why thank you Sir, that’s extremely generous of you. How nice to see a man of distinction in our small town,” Tabitha took the coins with a surprised smile. 

“Frank, was it?” I smiled to him. “Mind if I escort you back to the saloon for a drink while Tabitha runs this errand for you?” 

Frank looked at both of us and bowed a little before a look of sadness flashed across his face. “I am so sorry ladies but I really must leave. Believe me it pains me to leave such a bevy of of beauty like yourselves so soon... and yes Frank Drevon.” 

Tabitha took a box of chocolates and attached a bright ribbon, then attached the carefully copied note and put it on the counter. 

“I would be pleased to have such a lovely escort,” Frank looked at me, “but I am afraid I must get going. I have an appointment but do hope... indeed I pray that we meet again soon for that drink.” 

“Oh I’m sorry. Well we’ll have to do it again sometime soon then. I’m either in the saloon or the newspaper office if I’m around town,” I smiled to him. 

“Farewell Mr Drevon, thank you for your custom and I do hope we shall you in town more often,” Tabitha nodded seriously. 

“Not hard to find,” I winked to Frank. “Walk with me at least to the saloon or are you going the other way?” He looked deep in my eyes without blinking, making me blush. 

“As you wish, I can hardly deny you that.” 

We said goodbye to Tabitha and then Frank offered his elbow for me to take. We walked toward the saloon he continued on his way while I went in to greet Logan again. He told me I had better try Gramps’ coffee and I told him that I would be lost without that coffee. Logan told me that he was unable to obtain the room at the hotel he was after. I assured him that he probably would find something soon as things changed rapidly around there. Gramps agreed that the only thing constant in this world was change itself. 

“Bet Logan and Frank would like if I went up there and joined you, eh boys?” I asked Gigi who was dancing and looked to the two men. 

“I believe it would be hard not to enjoy that,” Frank acknowledged. 

“I’m sure that your company would be appreciated regardless of where you would be, Miss Trin,” Logan said in agreement. 

Setting my coffee down on the table, I went behind the curtain and changed in my dress, moving up onto the stage to dance beside Gigi. 

“So who am I going to tell Jakob the debt is paid?” Gramps asked as I began to dance. 

“Frank Drevon,” Frank smiled at him. 

“Okay Frank. I can go with paying his debt to you, since not many knew of it. If there is a concern it will be between the two of ya.” 

“Thank you very much. I shall go deliver it to him.”

I continued to dance beside Gigi and got lost in my thoughts as the conversation surrounded us. A man named Ethan came into the saloon, talking about how his horse was killed.  I asked him where he was from and he said he was from New York. He said he was looking for work and I told him we could always use workers for the paper but it didn’t seem like he wanted that type of work. He seemed to think the idea of him being a lawman was comical too as he was just a simple farm boy who’d been on the move ever since his parents had been killed by a fever that had been going around. Gramps told him about how outlaws had tried to take over the town last week and the town didn’t let it happen. 

Ethan looked like he was growing tired so we suggested that there was rooms at the hotel but I also suggested that he could stay at my office in the living room if he needed to, since I slept upstairs. He seemed pleased at the offer and I went behind the curtain to change back into normal clothes. We headed out of the saloon together and walked down the street towards the office. 

“Well this is it,” I said when we got there. “They’re pretty comfortable couches. I’m just gonna be writing over here but it’s safer in here with all the gunshots goin’ off. Guess I’ll just let you rest here,” I said and went over to my desk as he lay on the couch to rest. 

An hour later James came into the office and greeted me. He said that he was just heading to the general store in Georgetown and I asked if he wanted company, saying that the man on the couch would be fine, he was just resting there. We went outside and I greeted him properly with a kiss before we headed into town. 

Georgetown.

“So where are we headed, James?” I asked when we got to the town. 

“I’m gonna go to the local store.” 

“Okay... Lead the way, I’ll just follow.” 

He headed into the building and dropped a few letters in a small package on a tray. “While we’re in town already, we can go see if someone’s at the Pinkertons’ office,” he suggested. 

“Okay... I doubt it but we can check it out. No rush though, dear. Take your time.” 

“Well lookin’ ain’t cost money,” he searched for something to write in to leave a not. 

“True,” I chuckled. “It’s a quaint little store though.” 

“Yeah, but it makes enough money it seems. Also that guy sleeping at the office, I take it he’s a friend of yours?” 

“Oh I just met him this morning in the saloon. He said his parents had died and he’d been drifting ever since. He seemed exhausted so I offered for him to sleep on my couch as he didn’t have the money for a room.” 

“I see, I see,” James nodded. 

“No need to worry, darlin’. At the end of the day I go to bed dreaming about you.” 

“I do not worry, I was just a little bit curious.” 

“You have every right to be now that we’re... well... s’pose we’re courtin’ or what would we call it now?” I chuckled. I noticed him being quiet then and changed the subject for now. “Shall we head out or did you want to see more here?” 

“Coulda be called that way,” James finally replied. “Ole Gramps already told me a few times how ‘lovey dovey’ we looked.” 

“Oh has he?” 

“Yeah, he did.” 

“Well... I have to say I do like what we have become,” I smiled. 

“Guess we were the only ones that did not know how we acted,” he smiled back. 

“It was good to go away for the weekend... Figure out what’s going on between us, without the folks around town getting in our way.” 

“Yes it was. Maybe we’ll have a trip somewhere else sometime.” 

“That sounds like a great idea,” I nodded. Stepping closer, I took his hand and then pulled him closer for a tight embrace. 

***

We walked back into town a couple of hours later after hearing the telegram that law was injured and investigators were needed. We headed to the saloon first, Rosa came running in looking for me, saying that she needed my help. I was surprised as it was the first time she’d ever asked for my help, and I realized something was seriously wrong. 

She took me over to the clinic where we saw Tristan laying on the bed, in a coma. I asked what had happened and she said that Tristan was beaten and had some serious head injuries. There were soon a few others who came into the clinic, and we told them that if they weren’t law or doctors or helping Tristan then they needed to get out of the saloon. 

I started to feel claustrophobic and faint, so I ran out of the clinic, crying. I went into the streets, looking around and trying to figure out where to go next. James came out and asked if I was okay and I told him I needed a drink. I ran to the saloon and he followed. 

“Calm down again, first,” James suggested. 

I sat down at the table and pulled out my flask of whiskey, starting to drink it. The tears were still falling and tried to relax. 

“Ya know over time that ain’t be the solution, Trin,” James said about the drink. I reached over to grab his hand and he held it tightly. “You got me quite worried when you left so suddenly, you know.” 

“I’m sorry James I just... I can’t be in that clinic for long. All these meetings to the undertaker... I don’t think it’s doing good for my sanity,” I sighed as I reached for more whiskey. “First what we thought was Dutch’s body... Then Sayler’s autopsy.... And now Tristan’s in a coma and we don’t know if he’ll make it...” 

“I know, I know,” James squeezed my hand tighter. 

“I need ice, ya’ll!” Bravo ran into the saloon, out of breath. “It’s for Tris. Where’s Gramps keep the ice?” 

“There’s a cooler under the bar, Bravo,” I told him. 

He smiled at me and looked under the bar, finding the bucket full of ice, and then ran back out. 

“It was sure a series of unfortunate events,” James agreed.

Brandon came into the saloon then looking for ice and I told him that Bravo had just come to get it. 

“But look at the positive side of it,” James advised and I looked in his eyes, knowing he was talking about how things had evolved between us. 

“You’re right, darlin’. I know you’re right.” 

“So stop cryin’ and put a smile on for me, will ya?” 

“I just know Rosa wants my help with this,” I said as I traced my thumb around his hand. “I ain’t sure how much help I can be, hon. I feel... run down. I just wish I had more writers who could...” 

“Have you tried putting out notices for volunteers?” 

“I’ll have to put out more,” I nodded. 

“The news about his tragedy traveled far,” Lali put in from another table where she was sitting. 

“Yes it has, Lali,” I nodded. 

“I have been away, don’t know what happened to him,” Avery admitted. 

“I guess his being a US Marshall makes the news,” Lali pointed out. 

“Indeed, Lali. We just have to find out who did this to him.” 

“It is not known?” 

“Not by me anyway, Lali.” 

“You see, I would like to help you Trin, but I ain’t be a writer,” James admitted. 

“I know James... I don’t know the whole story yet. Rosa was gonna tell me ‘cause she wants my help.” 

“We were in St. Maarten when one of the island folks brought us the news,” Lali told us. 

“What happened to him?” Avery wanted to know more information. 

“He was beaten,” I told him. “Has some pretty serious head wounds. That’s all I know.” 

“How is Peep taking all this, Miss Trin?” 

“We haven’t seen Peep yet,” James answered. 

“That’s what I’m worried about the most. Where is she? Does she even know? I haven’t seen them in town for ages.” 

Bravo ran in and got some more ice then and James said, “I think it’s not the time for questions, Trin.” I sighed and got choked up again, reaching for some of my whiskey. James moved closer and lay an arm around me. “Now, now...” he comforted. 

“Oh well if I found out in St. Maarten, surely she must know, unless she’s hibernating in a cave.” 

“Shall we go home and get a bit of rest?” James asked me after a while. 

“I want to be here if Rosa needs me,” I shook my head. “I doubt I could sleep right now...” 

“I could stop and tell Rosa where to find us.” 

“Okay, I guess you’re right. Even if we just lay down.” 

We stood and walked home, walking with our arms around each other’s waist for support. When we’d curled up on a rug in the apartment upstairs he asked, “So tell me what shall we do from now on?” 

“From now on? What do you mean, James? Right now, or in general?” 

“You decide it, Trin,” he nodded. 

I caressed his cheek and leaned forward, kissing him deeply. He wrapped his arms around me and we continued to kiss, escaping in the feeling of being so connected with one another that the struggles of the world didn’t seem to matter, at least for that one moment in time.